Palace snubs Ramos warning about 'witch-hunt' vs Arroyo

Malacañang on Saturday rebuffed former President Fidel Ramos’ warning over a supposed “witch-hunt" against the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration, saying the “search for accountability" had been one of President Benigno Aquino III’s campaign promises. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte also said the Aquino administration’s efforts to go after past wrongs had been getting positive feedback from foreign investors. “Siguro at this point we would like to remind former President Ramos na si President Aquino was elected on the basis of campaign promises natin, which is to seek accountability and for those who had done the country wrong," she said on government radio dzRB. Moreover, she said "We’re getting support... ang nakakausap nating foreign investors they say the search for accountability is really a good thing kasi nagkakaroon ng closure ang ating system." Last Thursday night, Ramos warned that investigations into numerous anomalies during the Arroyo administration are driving away investors and giving the country a bad image. Ramos was quoted as saying that such investigations are not creating “a pretty picture" for the Philippines. “You can’t say we are against corruption and yet let accountability fall by the wayside," Valte countered. Besides, she said, it is better for the Philippines to show the “real picture" instead of sugarcoating some issues to come up with a “pretty picture." “Mas mabuti siguro maipakita natin ang tunay na nangyayari and what we’re doing about it," she added. Also, Valte maintained the administration is not too focused on going after past wrongs. “The search for accountability is not the only thing the administration is doing. We’re pumping up our maritime defense and we are focused on social services," she said. She likewise contested Ramos’ claims that the investigations into the past administration’s alleged sins are a witch-hunt. — LBG, GMA News